Written by Salee S Nair, MD &amp; CEO, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank&nbsp;For banks with a deep-rooted legacy, change is never abrupt—it is deliberate, structured, and built on strengthening the core while preparing for the future. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our technological journey has followed this very philosophy: purposeful, progressive, and consistently aligned with the evolving needs of our customers.&nbsp;Today, the most profound transformation in banking is not merely visible through mobile apps or digital transactions. It is unfolding at a much deeper level—within the foundational systems that power how transactions are processed, how decisions are made, and how customer experiences are delivered.&nbsp;This is where the true future of banking is taking shape: not just at the surface, but at the core.&nbsp;<h2>Reinforcing the Foundation for a Digital-First Age</h2>&nbsp;At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our technology strategy begins with strengthening the core. In recent years, we have undertaken a phased modernization journey focused on enhancing efficiency, scalability, and resilience across our operations.&nbsp;A key milestone in this transformation has been the deployment of enterprise-wide platforms such as Oracle Fusion, enabling critical functions including human capital management and customer engagement. These advancements have streamlined workflows, reduced manual dependencies, and led to faster decision-making along with improved operational visibility across the organization.&nbsp;To support this transformation, we have made significant investments in our technology infrastructure. For FY 2025–26, the Bank has earmarked ₹250 crore towards IT modernization initiatives—reflecting our long-term commitment to building a robust, future-ready digital foundation.&nbsp;<h2>Incorporating New Technologies into Banking Functions</h2>&nbsp;The integration of technology today is less about deploying standalone tools and more about building interconnected ecosystems. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we are embedding new technologies into everyday banking operations to enhance both efficiency and reliability.&nbsp;A key example is the establishment of a modern call centre supported by AI-driven capabilities, designed to improve responsiveness and ensure consistent service across all customer interactions.&nbsp;We are also strengthening our credit ecosystem by upgrading our Loan Origination Systems and Loan Management Systems. These enhancements are reducing turnaround times and streamlining lending processes—particularly in the retail and MSME segments, which remain central to our growth strategy.&nbsp;Collaboration, too, has become a vital pillar of our technology approach. Through fintech partnerships and co-lending platforms, we are combining the trust and stability of traditional banking with the agility and innovation of emerging financial technologies.&nbsp;<h2>Facilitating a Phygital Banking Experience</h2>&nbsp;The future of banking lies in seamlessly blending digital convenience with physical accessibility. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), evolving customer behaviour clearly reflects this shift, with digital transactions now accounting for nearly 97% of total volumes—underscoring growing trust in digital platforms.&nbsp;In response, we have transformed our internet banking platform into a comprehensive Digital Engagement Hub and enhanced our mobile banking services with features such as UPI integration and digital onboarding. These initiatives are designed to deliver a seamless and intuitive customer experience, while maintaining the highest standards of security.&nbsp;At the same time, we are strengthening our backend operations. Reconciliation processes and treasury functions have been further automated, improving accuracy, enhancing operational reliability, and driving efficiency across the banking ecosystem.&nbsp;<h2>Technology Rooted in Trust</h2>&nbsp;The adoption of technology in banking must always be anchored in trust. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our focus extends beyond rapid adoption to the strategic deployment of technology—enhancing customer experience, strengthening risk management, and supporting sustainable growth.&nbsp;Equally important is our investment in people. As part of our transformation journey, we have strengthened our technology talent pool by bringing in specialized expertise, ensuring that our digital initiatives are supported by deep technical capability and domain knowledge.&nbsp;As the banking sector continues to evolve, institutions that succeed will be those that embed technology into their core with clarity and purpose. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, this journey continues with a steadfast focus on building a resilient, intelligent, and customer-centric banking ecosystem—one that is well-prepared for the future.&nbsp;<h2>Integrating Modern Technologies into Banking Operations</h2>&nbsp;Technology integration today is increasingly centred on creating seamless, interconnected ecosystems rather than deploying isolated solutions. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we are aligning technology adoption with business outcomes by embedding it into day-to-day operations to drive efficiency, consistency, and reliability.&nbsp;As part of this approach, we have introduced a next-generation call centre leveraging AI capabilities to deliver faster response times and a more uniform customer experience across all engagement channels.&nbsp;Simultaneously, we are advancing our credit delivery framework through the modernization of Loan Origination and Loan Management Systems. These enhancements are accelerating processing timelines and improving operational efficiency, particularly within the retail and MSME portfolios that are central to our growth.&nbsp;In addition, strategic collaboration remains a key enabler. By partnering with fintechs and leveraging co-lending models, we are enhancing our ability to deliver innovative, flexible financial solutions while maintaining the strength and trust of our traditional banking foundation.&nbsp;<h2>Enabling a Phygital Banking Experience</h2>&nbsp;At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we see the future of banking as a balance between digital convenience and the reassurance of physical presence. Our customers are leading this shift: digital channels now account for nearly 97% of transactions, reflecting increasing confidence in secure, technology-driven banking.&nbsp;To meet these expectations, we have redesigned our online and mobile platforms into a Digital Engagement Hub—offering seamless UPI payments, digital onboarding, and intuitive self-service options. This ensures customers can complete transactions efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of security.&nbsp;We are also modernizing back-office operations. Automation in reconciliation and treasury processes is streamlining workflows, enhancing reliability, and improving overall operational efficiency. By connecting front-end digital experiences with robust operational systems, TMB is building a banking ecosystem that is responsive, resilient, and ready for the future.

Today, the most profound transformation in banking is not merely visible through mobile apps or digital transactions. It is unfolding at a much deeper level—within the foundational systems that power how transactions are processed.

Written by Salee S Nair, MD & CEO, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank For banks with a deep-rooted legacy, change is never abrupt—it is deliberate, structured, and built on strengthening the core while preparing for the future. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our technological journey has followed this very philosophy: purposeful, progressive, and consistently aligned with the evolving needs of our customers. Today, the most profound transformation in banking is not merely visible through mobile apps or digital transactions. It is unfolding at a much deeper level—within the foundational systems that power how transactions are processed, how decisions are made, and how customer experiences are delivered. This is where the true future of banking is taking shape: not just at the surface, but at the core. Reinforcing the Foundation for a Digital-First Age At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our technology strategy begins with strengthening the core. In recent years, we have undertaken a phased modernization journey focused on enhancing efficiency, scalability, and resilience across our operations. A key milestone in this transformation has been the deployment of enterprise-wide platforms such as Oracle Fusion, enabling critical functions including human capital management and customer engagement. These advancements have streamlined workflows, reduced manual dependencies, and led to faster decision-making along with improved operational visibility across the organization. To support this transformation, we have made significant investments in our technology infrastructure. For FY 2025–26, the Bank has earmarked ₹250 crore towards IT modernization initiatives—reflecting our long-term commitment to building a robust, future-ready digital foundation. Incorporating New Technologies into Banking Functions The integration of technology today is less about deploying standalone tools and more about building interconnected ecosystems. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we are embedding new technologies into everyday banking operations to enhance both efficiency and reliability. A key example is the establishment of a modern call centre supported by AI-driven capabilities, designed to improve responsiveness and ensure consistent service across all customer interactions. We are also strengthening our credit ecosystem by upgrading our Loan Origination Systems and Loan Management Systems. These enhancements are reducing turnaround times and streamlining lending processes—particularly in the retail and MSME segments, which remain central to our growth strategy. Collaboration, too, has become a vital pillar of our technology approach. Through fintech partnerships and co-lending platforms, we are combining the trust and stability of traditional banking with the agility and innovation of emerging financial technologies. Facilitating a Phygital Banking Experience The future of banking lies in seamlessly blending digital convenience with physical accessibility. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), evolving customer behaviour clearly reflects this shift, with digital transactions now accounting for nearly 97% of total volumes—underscoring growing trust in digital platforms. In response, we have transformed our internet banking platform into a comprehensive Digital Engagement Hub and enhanced our mobile banking services with features such as UPI integration and digital onboarding. These initiatives are designed to deliver a seamless and intuitive customer experience, while maintaining the highest standards of security. At the same time, we are strengthening our backend operations. Reconciliation processes and treasury functions have been further automated, improving accuracy, enhancing operational reliability, and driving efficiency across the banking ecosystem. Technology Rooted in Trust The adoption of technology in banking must always be anchored in trust. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), our focus extends beyond rapid adoption to the strategic deployment of technology—enhancing customer experience, strengthening risk management, and supporting sustainable growth. Equally important is our investment in people. As part of our transformation journey, we have strengthened our technology talent pool by bringing in specialized expertise, ensuring that our digital initiatives are supported by deep technical capability and domain knowledge. As the banking sector continues to evolve, institutions that succeed will be those that embed technology into their core with clarity and purpose. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, this journey continues with a steadfast focus on building a resilient, intelligent, and customer-centric banking ecosystem—one that is well-prepared for the future. Integrating Modern Technologies into Banking Operations Technology integration today is increasingly centred on creating seamless, interconnected ecosystems rather than deploying isolated solutions. At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we are aligning technology adoption with business outcomes by embedding it into day-to-day operations to drive efficiency, consistency, and reliability. As part of this approach, we have introduced a next-generation call centre leveraging AI capabilities to deliver faster response times and a more uniform customer experience across all engagement channels. Simultaneously, we are advancing our credit delivery framework through the modernization of Loan Origination and Loan Management Systems. These enhancements are accelerating processing timelines and improving operational efficiency, particularly within the retail and MSME portfolios that are central to our growth. In addition, strategic collaboration remains a key enabler. By partnering with fintechs and leveraging co-lending models, we are enhancing our ability to deliver innovative, flexible financial solutions while maintaining the strength and trust of our traditional banking foundation. Enabling a Phygital Banking Experience At Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), we see the future of banking as a balance between digital convenience and the reassurance of physical presence. Our customers are leading this shift: digital channels now account for nearly 97% of transactions, reflecting increasing confidence in secure, technology-driven banking. To meet these expectations, we have redesigned our online and mobile platforms into a Digital Engagement Hub—offering seamless UPI payments, digital onboarding, and intuitive self-service options. This ensures customers can complete transactions efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of security. We are also modernizing back-office operations. Automation in reconciliation and treasury processes is streamlining workflows, enhancing reliability, and improving overall operational efficiency. By connecting front-end digital experiences with robust operational systems, TMB is building a banking ecosystem that is responsive, resilient, and ready for the future.

Today, the most profound transformation in banking is not merely visible through mobile apps or digital transactions. It is unfolding at a much deeper level—within the foundational systems that power how transactions are processed.

How technology is shaping the future of banking at Tamilnad Mercantile Bank

On WION World Pulse, India’s Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shares his perspective on global leadership, sustainability, and the shifting balance of power in today’s world. Emphasising that the future will not be shaped by power alone, he highlights the role of cooperation, innovation, and responsible governance in addressing global challenges. Watch the full conversation for key insights into geopolitics, development, and India’s vision on the world stage

WION World Pulse | Shekhawat: Future Won't Be Shaped by Power Alone

At the WION World Pulse summit, veteran actor Anupam Kher said he is not ready for any lifetime achievement award, emphasizing his continued passion for work.

WION World Pulse: Renowned Indian Actor & Filmmaker Speaks at WION World Pulse 

WION World Pulse: Renowned Indian Actor and Filmmaker Anupam Kher Speaks at WION World Pulse

On WION World Pulse, renowned actor Anupam Kher joins for an engaging conversation, sharing insights from his decades-long journey in cinema and life. From personal growth and resilience to motivation and success, he reflects on lessons learned and  challenges faced

WION World Pulse: Capturing the Pulse with Renowned Actor, Anupam Kher 

The number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally and so will the energy import bills, and hence we need to move to sustainable mobility as fast as possible, said Vikram Gulati, Country Head &amp; EVP (Corporate Affairs &amp; Governance), Toyota Kirloskar Motor. He was addressing ‘Auto Pulse: The Future of Mobility,’ the automobile segment of the WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi on Wednesday (Mar 18).&nbsp;“Last calendar year, car sales in India were around 4.5 million, a six per cent growth year on year, and a penetration rate of 30 people per thousand. At the pace at which we are growing, and the market we see ahead, the number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally,” said Gulati.The market is very diverse and the needs of customers are very different, he said, adding, “At Toyota, we are looking at the end objective of decarbonisation, our goal is to achieve a life cycle of zero-carbon by 2050. Therefore, we believe that we need to move to sustainable mobility as fast as possible.”There would be multiple clean, sustainable technologies that would be needed, and so we need to act with speed and scale now, the Country Head &amp; EVP, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said.Reflecting on the competition between traditional fuel and electric, and hybrid vehicles, Gulati said the advantage is with incumbent technology, as petrol and diesel have been around for a hundred years, but the gap is closing fast because of technology evolution and the declining cost of key components in electric cars like batteries, besides scale, and the huge support the government is giving, like just five per cent of GST. In addition, state governments are also giving incentives.&nbsp;“With the new evolving technologies like flex fuel vehicles, there is no need for new infrastructure, and the fuel is also indigenous, so that can be a game changer for sustainability and self-reliance in energy going forward,” Gulati said.

Vikram Gulati, Country Head & EVP, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said car sales in India were around 4.5 million, a 6% growth year-on-year, and a penetration rate of 30 people per thousand. At the pace at which we are growing, the number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally.

The number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally and so will the energy import bills, and hence we need to move to sustainable mobility as fast as possible, said Vikram Gulati, Country Head & EVP (Corporate Affairs & Governance), Toyota Kirloskar Motor. He was addressing ‘Auto Pulse: The Future of Mobility,’ the automobile segment of the WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi on Wednesday (Mar 18). “Last calendar year, car sales in India were around 4.5 million, a six per cent growth year on year, and a penetration rate of 30 people per thousand. At the pace at which we are growing, and the market we see ahead, the number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally,” said Gulati. The market is very diverse and the needs of customers are very different, he said, adding, “At Toyota, we are looking at the end objective of decarbonisation, our goal is to achieve a life cycle of zero-carbon by 2050. Therefore, we believe that we need to move to sustainable mobility as fast as possible.” There would be multiple clean, sustainable technologies that would be needed, and so we need to act with speed and scale now, the Country Head & EVP, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said. Reflecting on the competition between traditional fuel and electric, and hybrid vehicles, Gulati said the advantage is with incumbent technology, as petrol and diesel have been around for a hundred years, but the gap is closing fast because of technology evolution and the declining cost of key components in electric cars like batteries, besides scale, and the huge support the government is giving, like just five per cent of GST. In addition, state governments are also giving incentives. “With the new evolving technologies like flex fuel vehicles, there is no need for new infrastructure, and the fuel is also indigenous, so that can be a game changer for sustainability and self-reliance in energy going forward,” Gulati said.

Vikram Gulati, Country Head &amp; EVP, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said car sales in India were around 4.5 million, a 6% growth year-on-year, and a penetration rate of 30 people per thousand. At the pace at which we are growing, the number of cars on the road is going to increase phenomenally.

Wion World Pulse: ‘We need to move to sustainable mobility as fast as possible’: Vikram Gulati

On WION World Pulse, the focus is on how countries across the globe are accelerating their energy transitions amid climate challenges and geopolitical uncertainties. 

WION World Pulse: How Countries are Accelerating Energy Transitions 

Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta hospitals, said in his address at ‘Healthcare Pulse: Medicine of Tomorrow,’ the healthcare segment of WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), that several ailments, like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, can now be detected by a study of genes. “There are enough genes that can be identified. You can actually find the imprint in a person’s genetic makeup to see where they are vulnerable for which disease,” said Trehan.“Today there is enough knowledge about heart disease, but the new heart is cancer, and everybody is living in that fear today. How do I detect cancer in its initial stage because it’s totally curable then in most instances. So, coupling that with the AI generators of the data mining and big data analysis in a matter of hours or days, which used to take us years, has compressed that whole process,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>‘If there is heart disease in family, there is a 30 per cent chance…’</h2>Asked about the rise in heart disease cases that we’ve seen of late, even in younger people, Tehran said, “So it’s a combination of things. It’s not one single factor. The most important thing that we say today is recognise your genes. We know very well if there is heart disease in the family, there is a 30% chance that you will also get heart disease.”“We also know the risk factors that go along with the development of blockages or any other heart disease. So if someone has a genetic history and decides to smoke and relish butter chicken every day, then you are on a suicidal track,” the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon added.Milind Soman, actor, supermodel, and fitness enthusiast, spoke about the importance of good health in his address and said that staying healthy is not difficult and can be quite simple. Soman also revealed that he exercises for only 10 minutes a day.<h2>‘If you need to be told, then you must be really dumb’</h2>On being asked how, as an epitome of fitness, he would nudge someone to start their fitness journey if they are making excuses, Soman said, “If they are making excuses, that’s their business. I’m not here to nudge anybody. Today, everyone knows that health is important. It’s not something that you need to be told. If you need to be told, then you must be really dumb.”Soman said, “If you already have neglected yourself to an extent or you have some congenital issues, then you may have reached a critical stage where you need to get your body back or into a position where it is healthy, and that takes a certain kind of effort.”As the discussion drifted to how the Covid pandemic impacted lives and approaches towards health, hygiene, and immunity, Milind Soman pointed out that the biggest message of the pandemic was that an underlying health condition puts one at a higher risk.&nbsp;“If you have an underlying health issue, you are more at risk, so do not develop these underlying health issues if you can. Don’t,” said Soman.<h2>‘Don’t think we are as prepared if another pandemic…’&nbsp;</h2>Angelique Coetzee, Former National Chairperson, South African Medical Association, who is known for her contribution to detecting the omicron variant of the Covid 19 virus, also shared her views through a video link. When asked about the state of preparedness if another pandemic knocked on the door, Coetzee said, “I don’t think we are as prepared as I would like us to think if a new pandemic emerges going forward. We, the WHO and other organisations have put in some precautions and rules to try to mitigate this but not every country is adhering to that. There is a lot of struggle in some of the countries.”

As the discussion turned into how the Covid pandemic impacted lives and approach towards health, hygiene, and immunity, Milind Soman pointed out that the biggest message of the pandemic was that an underlying health condition puts one at a higher risk.

Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta hospitals, said in his address at ‘Healthcare Pulse: Medicine of Tomorrow,’ the healthcare segment of WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), that several ailments, like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, can now be detected by a study of genes. “There are enough genes that can be identified. You can actually find the imprint in a person’s genetic makeup to see where they are vulnerable for which disease,” said Trehan. “Today there is enough knowledge about heart disease, but the new heart is cancer, and everybody is living in that fear today. How do I detect cancer in its initial stage because it’s totally curable then in most instances. So, coupling that with the AI generators of the data mining and big data analysis in a matter of hours or days, which used to take us years, has compressed that whole process,” he said. ‘If there is heart disease in family, there is a 30 per cent chance…’ Asked about the rise in heart disease cases that we’ve seen of late, even in younger people, Tehran said, “So it’s a combination of things. It’s not one single factor. The most important thing that we say today is recognise your genes. We know very well if there is heart disease in the family, there is a 30% chance that you will also get heart disease.” “We also know the risk factors that go along with the development of blockages or any other heart disease. So if someone has a genetic history and decides to smoke and relish butter chicken every day, then you are on a suicidal track,” the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon added. Milind Soman, actor, supermodel, and fitness enthusiast, spoke about the importance of good health in his address and said that staying healthy is not difficult and can be quite simple. Soman also revealed that he exercises for only 10 minutes a day. ‘If you need to be told, then you must be really dumb’ On being asked how, as an epitome of fitness, he would nudge someone to start their fitness journey if they are making excuses, Soman said, “If they are making excuses, that’s their business. I’m not here to nudge anybody. Today, everyone knows that health is important. It’s not something that you need to be told. If you need to be told, then you must be really dumb.” Soman said, “If you already have neglected yourself to an extent or you have some congenital issues, then you may have reached a critical stage where you need to get your body back or into a position where it is healthy, and that takes a certain kind of effort.” As the discussion drifted to how the Covid pandemic impacted lives and approaches towards health, hygiene, and immunity, Milind Soman pointed out that the biggest message of the pandemic was that an underlying health condition puts one at a higher risk. “If you have an underlying health issue, you are more at risk, so do not develop these underlying health issues if you can. Don’t,” said Soman. ‘Don’t think we are as prepared if another pandemic…’ Angelique Coetzee, Former National Chairperson, South African Medical Association, who is known for her contribution to detecting the omicron variant of the Covid 19 virus, also shared her views through a video link. When asked about the state of preparedness if another pandemic knocked on the door, Coetzee said, “I don’t think we are as prepared as I would like us to think if a new pandemic emerges going forward. We, the WHO and other organisations have put in some precautions and rules to try to mitigate this but not every country is adhering to that. There is a lot of struggle in some of the countries.”

As the discussion drifted to how the Covid pandemic impacted lives and approaches towards health, hygiene, and immunity, Milind Soman pointed out that the biggest message of the pandemic was that an underlying health condition puts one at a higher risk.

WION World Pulse: ‘Now it’s easy to identify disease vulnerability through genetic makeup’- Naresh Trehan

On WION World Pulse, Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of India, discusses how the country is navigating the ongoing energy crisis. He highlights government strategies to ensure energy security, diversify supply sources, and manage rising global volatility

WION World Pulse: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi at World Pulse 

WION World Pulse summit: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi discusses how India is navigating the ongoing energy crisis

WION World Pulse: How India is Navigating Energy Crisis; Prahlad Joshi at World Pulse 

WION World Pulse: How India is Navigating Energy Crisis; Pralhad Joshi at World Pulse

Speaking at the WION Pulse summit on Wednesday (March 18), Iran's Deputy Ambassador to India, Mohamed Javad Hosseini, said the war with the US and Israel was “imposed” on the Islamic Republic.

WION World Pulse | 'War was imposed on us': Iran's Deputy Ambassador to India

Speaking at the WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Marc 18), Norwegian climate expert Erik Solheim underscored the dramatic shift in the global climate narrative, highlighting how Asia, particularly India and China, is now leading the transition to renewable energy.Joining the Planet Pulse session of the summit via video, Solheim noted that climate action is no longer just an environmental crusade but a major economic driver.<h2>‘From diplomacy to business’: The Asian surge</h2>&nbsp;Solheim stressed that the narrative around climate change has completely transformed in recent years. "Earlier, Europe was leading. Now, Asia, especially India and China, is leading," he said.He explained that climate discussions have moved away from pure diplomacy and are now centred on business and economic growth. To illustrate this scale, he pointed out that China added 315 gigawatts of solar energy in a single year, an amount equal to 12 times Bangladesh’s entire power grid and 10 times Norway’s total hydropower capacity.India is also seeing massive growth in its green sector. Solheim noted that India is now the third largest renewable energy producer in the world and is likely to soon surpass the United States. Last year, India added 14 gigawatts of renewable energy, roughly six times the entire grid of Sri Lanka.<h2>Economy and ecology hand in hand&nbsp;</h2>Highlighting a historic turning point, Solheim explained that economic prosperity and ecological preservation are no longer mutually exclusive."For the first time in human history, economy and ecology can go hand in hand," he stated.While previous models of development heavily relied on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, modern growth is defined by solar, wind, hydropower, and electric vehicles. With solar now being the cheapest energy source in the world, adopting it allows countries to save money, redirect funds to health and education, and achieve energy independence from global oil markets.<h2>Massive green infrastructure projects&nbsp;</h2>Positioning India's role on the global stage, Solheim praised the country's massive renewable infrastructure projects.He highlighted the Adani Group's ongoing construction of a solar plant of 30 gigawatts, the largest in the world. He also pointed to GreenCo’s facility in Andhra Pradesh, the world’s largest integrated system combining solar, wind, hydropower, and battery storage. During the day, solar energy pumps water to a reservoir, and at night, the water is released to generate electricity, ensuring 24 hours of renewable energy.Similar advanced projects are already planned across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, pushing India "from the backseat to the front seat in climate action."<h2>‘Scalable and affordable’ renewable energy and the decline of coal</h2>&nbsp;Addressing the future of fossil fuels, Solheim acknowledged that while some investment in oil and gas remains necessary, the absolute priority has shifted to renewables.He shared a major milestone: for the first time in modern history, coal emissions have started declining in India and China because renewable options are scalable, affordable, and economically viable.Giving a practical example from Uttar Pradesh, he noted that switching from diesel to solar power reduced monthly energy costs from ₹40,000 to ₹15,000."People are switching not just for the environment, but because it saves money," Solheim concluded, adding that the transition is accelerating because it improves health, reduces pollution, and builds energy independence for the long term.

At the WION World Pulse summit, climate expert Eric Solheim highlighted how the global green transition is becoming scalable, affordable and economically viable. He stressed that solar energy, massive infrastructure and cost savings are now central to modern development.

Speaking at the WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Marc 18), Norwegian climate expert Erik Solheim underscored the dramatic shift in the global climate narrative, highlighting how Asia, particularly India and China, is now leading the transition to renewable energy. Joining the Planet Pulse session of the summit via video, Solheim noted that climate action is no longer just an environmental crusade but a major economic driver. ‘From diplomacy to business’: The Asian surge Solheim stressed that the narrative around climate change has completely transformed in recent years. "Earlier, Europe was leading. Now, Asia, especially India and China, is leading," he said. He explained that climate discussions have moved away from pure diplomacy and are now centred on business and economic growth. To illustrate this scale, he pointed out that China added 315 gigawatts of solar energy in a single year, an amount equal to 12 times Bangladesh’s entire power grid and 10 times Norway’s total hydropower capacity. India is also seeing massive growth in its green sector. Solheim noted that India is now the third largest renewable energy producer in the world and is likely to soon surpass the United States. Last year, India added 14 gigawatts of renewable energy, roughly six times the entire grid of Sri Lanka. Economy and ecology hand in hand Highlighting a historic turning point, Solheim explained that economic prosperity and ecological preservation are no longer mutually exclusive. "For the first time in human history, economy and ecology can go hand in hand," he stated. While previous models of development heavily relied on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, modern growth is defined by solar, wind, hydropower, and electric vehicles. With solar now being the cheapest energy source in the world, adopting it allows countries to save money, redirect funds to health and education, and achieve energy independence from global oil markets. Massive green infrastructure projects Positioning India's role on the global stage, Solheim praised the country's massive renewable infrastructure projects. He highlighted the Adani Group's ongoing construction of a solar plant of 30 gigawatts, the largest in the world. He also pointed to GreenCo’s facility in Andhra Pradesh, the world’s largest integrated system combining solar, wind, hydropower, and battery storage. During the day, solar energy pumps water to a reservoir, and at night, the water is released to generate electricity, ensuring 24 hours of renewable energy. Similar advanced projects are already planned across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, pushing India "from the backseat to the front seat in climate action." ‘Scalable and affordable’ renewable energy and the decline of coal Addressing the future of fossil fuels, Solheim acknowledged that while some investment in oil and gas remains necessary, the absolute priority has shifted to renewables. He shared a major milestone: for the first time in modern history, coal emissions have started declining in India and China because renewable options are scalable, affordable, and economically viable. Giving a practical example from Uttar Pradesh, he noted that switching from diesel to solar power reduced monthly energy costs from ₹40,000 to ₹15,000. "People are switching not just for the environment, but because it saves money," Solheim concluded, adding that the transition is accelerating because it improves health, reduces pollution, and builds energy independence for the long term.

At the WION World Pulse summit, climate expert Eric Solheim highlighted how the global green transition is becoming scalable, affordable and economically viable. He stressed that solar energy, massive infrastructure and cost savings are now central to modern development.

WION World Pulse | ‘India has moved from the backseat to the front seat’: Norwegian expert Erik Solheim on renewable energy boom

“Earlier, climate was about diplomacy, and now it is about business," said Erik Solheim, Former Norwegian Environment Minister, at WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi

WION World Pulse | Erik Solheim: Climate was about diplomacy, now it is business

On WION World Pulse, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Indian Army, emphasizes that defence and deterrence form the cornerstone of the nation’s security.

WION World Pulse: Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi on Defence & Deterrence as India’s Security Cornerstone

Technology experts, observers, and industry leaders converged at the WION World Pulse Summit in the national capital on Wednesday (Mar 18) to decode global tech strategies in accordance with the "Rhythm of the New World Order." &nbsp;The session featured Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission; Nitin Pai, Co-Founder &amp; Director, Takshashila Institution; and Venk Krishnan, President, TiE Bangalore, and Founder, NuVentures.They discussed how Artificial Intelligence is rapidly emerging as a defining force in global geopolitics, reshaping how nations compete across economic, technological, and security domains. As countries invest heavily in advanced AI capabilities, India is stepping up its efforts to position itself as a serious contender. With a strong digital public infrastructure and a globally competitive IT sector, the country has key building blocks in place. However, the experts warned that bridging the gap in cutting-edge innovation will be critical if India aims to lead rather than follow in the AI race.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-ai-innovation-gap-agi-venk-krishnan-tie-bangalore-1773825551915">WION World Pulse | 'We will be fooling ourselves, if we don't innovate' in AI says TiE’s Venk Krishnan</a>&nbsp;Speaking on the broader implications, Nitin Pai, Co-Founder &amp; Director, Takshashila Institution, emphasised that AI must be viewed as a form of geopolitical power, not just a technological advancement. He argued that India should avoid putting all its bets on a single approach and instead pursue multiple pathways simultaneously, ranging from foundational research to applied AI development. This diversified strategy, he suggested, would allow India to remain flexible and resilient in a rapidly evolving landscape where technological shifts can quickly redefine leadership.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-saina-nehwal-receives-wion-icon-award-1773836990153/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-saina-nehwal-receives-wion-icon-award-1773836990153/embed</a>&nbsp;Highlighting the challenges, Venk Krishnan, President, TiE Bangalore, and Founder, pointed to a growing innovation gap, particularly in advanced AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). While India benefits from a deep talent pool and a vibrant startup ecosystem, he noted that the country still lags behind global leaders in breakthrough research and high-end model development. Closing this gap will require sustained investment, stronger research ecosystems, and closer collaboration between academia, industry, and government.Adding an industry perspective, leadership associated with the IndiaAI Mission, Abhishek Singh, CEO, stressed that India’s strength lies in scale and diversity. Rather than focusing on a single flagship AI model, multiple “homegrown” solutions are expected to emerge across sectors. The Indian IT industry, with its global reach and execution capabilities, is likely to play a central role in translating AI innovation into real-world applications.

AI is emerging as a geopolitical power; India must bridge innovation gaps, scale industry efforts, and adopt multi-path strategies to stay competitive

Technology experts, observers, and industry leaders converged at the WION World Pulse Summit in the national capital on Wednesday (Mar 18) to decode global tech strategies in accordance with the "Rhythm of the New World Order." The session featured Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission; Nitin Pai, Co-Founder & Director, Takshashila Institution; and Venk Krishnan, President, TiE Bangalore, and Founder, NuVentures. They discussed how Artificial Intelligence is rapidly emerging as a defining force in global geopolitics, reshaping how nations compete across economic, technological, and security domains. As countries invest heavily in advanced AI capabilities, India is stepping up its efforts to position itself as a serious contender. With a strong digital public infrastructure and a globally competitive IT sector, the country has key building blocks in place. However, the experts warned that bridging the gap in cutting-edge innovation will be critical if India aims to lead rather than follow in the AI race. Also Read: WION World Pulse | 'We will be fooling ourselves, if we don't innovate' in AI says TiE’s Venk Krishnan Speaking on the broader implications, Nitin Pai, Co-Founder & Director, Takshashila Institution, emphasised that AI must be viewed as a form of geopolitical power, not just a technological advancement. He argued that India should avoid putting all its bets on a single approach and instead pursue multiple pathways simultaneously, ranging from foundational research to applied AI development. This diversified strategy, he suggested, would allow India to remain flexible and resilient in a rapidly evolving landscape where technological shifts can quickly redefine leadership. https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-saina-nehwal-receives-wion-icon-award-1773836990153/embed Highlighting the challenges, Venk Krishnan, President, TiE Bangalore, and Founder, pointed to a growing innovation gap, particularly in advanced AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). While India benefits from a deep talent pool and a vibrant startup ecosystem, he noted that the country still lags behind global leaders in breakthrough research and high-end model development. Closing this gap will require sustained investment, stronger research ecosystems, and closer collaboration between academia, industry, and government. Adding an industry perspective, leadership associated with the IndiaAI Mission, Abhishek Singh, CEO, stressed that India’s strength lies in scale and diversity. Rather than focusing on a single flagship AI model, multiple “homegrown” solutions are expected to emerge across sectors. The Indian IT industry, with its global reach and execution capabilities, is likely to play a central role in translating AI innovation into real-world applications.

AI is emerging as a geopolitical power; India must bridge innovation gaps, scale industry efforts, and adopt multi-path strategies to stay competitive

WION World Pulse: India bets on multi-track AI growth to stay competitive

“In 1999, we didn’t even imagine that badminton would become so popular. It is the second most loved sport in India,” said Saina Nehwal, Olympic medal-winning badminton champion and former World #1. She thanked her mother for her unwavering support through her sporting career 

WION World Pulse | Saina Nehwal receives WION Icon award

“People with AI skills will take away the jobs of people without AI skills,” said Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission at WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi

WION World Pulse: ''People with AI skills will take jobs of those without it''

Defence Pulse witnessed in-depth conversation on the future of warfare, exploring evolving military strategies, emerging technologies, and the growing role of deterrence in modern conflicts. 

WION World Pulse | Convergence of AI, Hypersonics, Sonic Booms & Robotics

WION World Pulse | Convergence of AI, Hypersonics, Sonic Booms and Robotics

Iran’s Deputy Ambassador to India, Mohamed Javad Hosseini, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said Tehran will continue its military response until there is a complete end to the conflict, while also emphasising continued cooperation with India. “Actually, I should tell you that for us, when you choose the path, you also choose the consequences. We will continue defending ourselves,” he said.He stressed that Iran does not want a temporary pause in hostilities. “We have to continue until they come to this point that they should commit, that they should end the war, not a ceasefire.” Reiterating Iran’s stance on diplomacy, Hosseini said, “We are always pro-negotiation, pro-diplomacy, but you see that the war was imposed on us.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-superpower-begging-other-countries-for-help-iran-deputy-envoy-to-india-at-wion-world-pulse-summit-1773833439546">'Superpower' begging other countries for help: Iran deputy envoy to India at WION World Pulse summit</a><h2>Strait of Hormuz open, but selectively: Mohamed Javad Hosseini</h2>On the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, he clarified that it remains open, but selectively. “The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. But we only let those countries who are friends, those who are actually supporting America or the Israelis, they cannot pass through it.”&nbsp;He confirmed that India is being given special consideration. “There was no deal with India; we have a very good relationship. We showed our sincere view to let these ships pass safely.”He added reassurance for Indian vessels: “Definitely, we do the same gesture, but it is a matter of time. We are working on it.”&nbsp;On Indian nationals in Iran, he detailed evacuation efforts. “We preferred that they should come on the route. Now they are moving from Qom, they go to Armenia, and from Armenia they come to Delhi.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed</a>&nbsp;Hosseini also expressed gratitude for support from India. “We received some repeated requests from the Indians on how they can help. We really appreciate this good gesture.”&nbsp;Addressing regional concerns, he said Iran had warned neighbouring countries. “If you allow any missiles, any drones, it seems that you are helping. We have a legitimate right to defend ourselves.”&nbsp;Despite rising tensions, he maintained that Iran’s conflict is limited in scope. “Still, I can confirm that we are not at war with any of our neighbours.”

At the WION World Pulse summit, Iran's envoy said the war will continue until the end, not a ceasefire; Hormuz will open selectively for some countries and India assured safe passage and evacuation support

Iran’s Deputy Ambassador to India, Mohamed Javad Hosseini, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said Tehran will continue its military response until there is a complete end to the conflict, while also emphasising continued cooperation with India. “Actually, I should tell you that for us, when you choose the path, you also choose the consequences. We will continue defending ourselves,” he said. He stressed that Iran does not want a temporary pause in hostilities. “We have to continue until they come to this point that they should commit, that they should end the war, not a ceasefire.” Reiterating Iran’s stance on diplomacy, Hosseini said, “We are always pro-negotiation, pro-diplomacy, but you see that the war was imposed on us.” Also Read: 'Superpower' begging other countries for help: Iran deputy envoy to India at WION World Pulse summit Strait of Hormuz open, but selectively: Mohamed Javad Hosseini On the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, he clarified that it remains open, but selectively. “The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. But we only let those countries who are friends, those who are actually supporting America or the Israelis, they cannot pass through it.” He confirmed that India is being given special consideration. “There was no deal with India; we have a very good relationship. We showed our sincere view to let these ships pass safely.” He added reassurance for Indian vessels: “Definitely, we do the same gesture, but it is a matter of time. We are working on it.” On Indian nationals in Iran, he detailed evacuation efforts. “We preferred that they should come on the route. Now they are moving from Qom, they go to Armenia, and from Armenia they come to Delhi.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed Hosseini also expressed gratitude for support from India. “We received some repeated requests from the Indians on how they can help. We really appreciate this good gesture.” Addressing regional concerns, he said Iran had warned neighbouring countries. “If you allow any missiles, any drones, it seems that you are helping. We have a legitimate right to defend ourselves.” Despite rising tensions, he maintained that Iran’s conflict is limited in scope. “Still, I can confirm that we are not at war with any of our neighbours.”

At the WION World Pulse summit, Iran's envoy said the war will continue until the end, not a ceasefire; Hormuz will open selectively for some countries and India assured safe passage and evacuation support

Strait of Hormuz only open for 'friends': Iran deputy envoy at WION World Pulse summit

John Bolton, former NSA to Donald Trump and ex-US Ambassador to the UN, warned that one of the greatest global threats is the regime in Tehran and its pursuit of nuclear weapons. He highlighted concerns over Iran’s ambitions and their impact on global security and stability

WION World Pulse | John Bolton warns Iran's nuclear ambitions among biggest global threats 

Iran's Deputy Ambassador to India, Mohamed Javad Hosseini, speaking at WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said that the US is no longer acting like a global superpower. “You know that President [Donald] Trump, from the beginning, he started, he said he would do a lot of things, now they have come to another decision, they have to win the war,” Hosseini said.&nbsp;“This is what they claim they are, the superpowers. But now they are begging single countries to help America to get out of this crisis,” he said. The Iranian envoy alleged that the US is trying to build alliances in the region out of desperation. “They are inviting, begging the Persian Gulf countries to join in some kind of alliances against Iran in the Hormuz Strait,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-gulf-countries-want-us-and-israel-to-succeed-in-iran-war-says-reuven-azar-israeli-ambassador-to-india-at-wion-world-pulse-summit-1773825229708">'Gulf countries want US and Israel to succeed in Iran war', says Reuven Azar, Israeli ambassador to India at WION World Pulse summit</a>&nbsp;Hosseini maintained that Iran did not initiate the conflict and continues to prefer diplomacy.&nbsp;“We always believe that diplomacy is the best way to solve the problem. But these two attacks that were imposed on us showed that they were not looking for some peaceful solution.”&nbsp;At the same time, he made it clear that Iran would not back down.&nbsp;“We have chosen this path that we will continue defending ourselves; this time, it is a one-way street, and there is no way back.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-india-is-the-3rd-largest-producer-of-electricity-through-renewable-energy-1773834259482/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-india-is-the-3rd-largest-producer-of-electricity-through-renewable-energy-1773834259482/embed</a>&nbsp;He rejected the idea of a ceasefire, citing past experiences. “We have told them we are still welcoming diplomacy, but if there is no guarantee for ending the war, we will continue.” Highlighting civilian casualties, Hosseini said, “They have attacked the Iranian school, 165 Iranian children were attacked by the four Tomahawk missiles within 15 seconds… these are the children… not military bases.” On regional tensions, he clarified Iran’s position: “We are not at war with any of our neighbours. We are just targeting American assets.”

At WION World Pulse summit, Iran deputy envoy said the US is ‘begging’ nations for help, even as Tehran would continue the war, ruling out ceasefire without guarantees

Iran's Deputy Ambassador to India, Mohamed Javad Hosseini, speaking at WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said that the US is no longer acting like a global superpower. “You know that President [Donald] Trump, from the beginning, he started, he said he would do a lot of things, now they have come to another decision, they have to win the war,” Hosseini said. “This is what they claim they are, the superpowers. But now they are begging single countries to help America to get out of this crisis,” he said. The Iranian envoy alleged that the US is trying to build alliances in the region out of desperation. “They are inviting, begging the Persian Gulf countries to join in some kind of alliances against Iran in the Hormuz Strait,” he said. Also Read: 'Gulf countries want US and Israel to succeed in Iran war', says Reuven Azar, Israeli ambassador to India at WION World Pulse summit Hosseini maintained that Iran did not initiate the conflict and continues to prefer diplomacy. “We always believe that diplomacy is the best way to solve the problem. But these two attacks that were imposed on us showed that they were not looking for some peaceful solution.” At the same time, he made it clear that Iran would not back down. “We have chosen this path that we will continue defending ourselves; this time, it is a one-way street, and there is no way back.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-india-is-the-3rd-largest-producer-of-electricity-through-renewable-energy-1773834259482/embed He rejected the idea of a ceasefire, citing past experiences. “We have told them we are still welcoming diplomacy, but if there is no guarantee for ending the war, we will continue.” Highlighting civilian casualties, Hosseini said, “They have attacked the Iranian school, 165 Iranian children were attacked by the four Tomahawk missiles within 15 seconds… these are the children… not military bases.” On regional tensions, he clarified Iran’s position: “We are not at war with any of our neighbours. We are just targeting American assets.”

At WION World Pulse summit, Iran deputy envoy said the US is ‘begging’ nations for help, even as Tehran would continue the war, ruling out ceasefire without guarantees

'Superpower' begging other countries for help: Iran deputy envoy at WION World Pulse summit

On WION World Pulse, ACM Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, former Chief of the Indian Air Force, shared his insights on defence and deterrence, highlighting the role of air power, strategic preparedness, and modernisation in strengthening India’s national security.

WION World Pulse: India Strives to Create An Adaptive Defence Strategy

"We are the third largest producer of electricity through renewable energy,” said Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy, at the WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi.

WION World Pulse | India is the 3rd largest producer of electricity through renewable energy

WION World Pulse | India is the 3rd largest producer of electricity through renewable energy, says minister Pralhad Joshi

A trailblazer in women’s sports in India, badminton hero Saina Nehwal received the WION Icon award at the World Pulse Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday (Mar 18). A 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, Saina is the first female badminton player from India and the second overall, after legendary Prakash Padukone, to attain the number one ranking (in 2015). From being the only Indian to have won at least one medal in every BWF major individual event, to inspiring a whole generation of aspiring female athletes to take up badminton, Saina has done more for her country than what stats reveal.Speaking at the World Pulse summit, Saina credited her mother for her unparalleled success at the international level. Having taken up badminton at a time in India when she had no female role models in this discipline to look up to, it was Saina’s mother who pushed her to become an Olympian and a world champion. By her sheer grit, determination and training, Saina realised her and her mother’s dream. &nbsp;“All thanks to my mom,” Saina started by crediting her mother for where she stands today as the top female superstar in badminton in the country. “I used to love sports. We used to listen to what my mom used to say, as we wouldn’t say no to her,” Saina said about her mother’s love. Continuing how her mother’s words of motivation and manifestation led to her success, Saina said, “My mother used to tell me, ‘You’re going to be an Olympian and a world champion,’ and I didn’t believe her.’<h3>‘I had no trainer’</h3>Saina’s path to the top wasn’t the easiest, as she details the struggles growing up. Unlike how revolutionised and professional today’s sports are, she didn’t have any of those facilities at her disposal.&nbsp;“I didn’t have a trainer or physio at that time, but all thanks to my mom and Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand), I could come this far,” Saina said at the WION World Pulse Summit. “I didn’t have women role models to look up to, but used to idolise Prakash [Padukone] sir.” Talking about badminton’s rise in the country, since she emerged on the scene and ended the Olympic medal drought in the London Games in 2012, Saina said, “Badminton is the second-most followed sport in India (after cricket).”&nbsp; Concluding with her thoughts on badminton’s future in the country, Saina said, “I hope we target (hosting) the Olympic Games in 2036 in India, and that, should it happen, India should aim to lead the medals tally in this discipline.”&nbsp;&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Indian shuttler <a href="https://twitter.com/NSaina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSaina</a> is the WION Icon (Sports)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIONWorldPulse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONWorldPulse</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAFxqvjfyd">pic.twitter.com/YAFxqvjfyd</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2034223260028829935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

At the 2026 World Pulse Summit, badminton legend Saina Nehwal received the WION Icon award and credits her mother for her historic journey to World No. 1. 

A trailblazer in women’s sports in India, badminton hero Saina Nehwal received the WION Icon award at the World Pulse Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday (Mar 18). A 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, Saina is the first female badminton player from India and the second overall, after legendary Prakash Padukone, to attain the number one ranking (in 2015). From being the only Indian to have won at least one medal in every BWF major individual event, to inspiring a whole generation of aspiring female athletes to take up badminton, Saina has done more for her country than what stats reveal. Speaking at the World Pulse summit, Saina credited her mother for her unparalleled success at the international level. Having taken up badminton at a time in India when she had no female role models in this discipline to look up to, it was Saina’s mother who pushed her to become an Olympian and a world champion. By her sheer grit, determination and training, Saina realised her and her mother’s dream. “All thanks to my mom,” Saina started by crediting her mother for where she stands today as the top female superstar in badminton in the country. “I used to love sports. We used to listen to what my mom used to say, as we wouldn’t say no to her,” Saina said about her mother’s love. Continuing how her mother’s words of motivation and manifestation led to her success, Saina said, “My mother used to tell me, ‘You’re going to be an Olympian and a world champion,’ and I didn’t believe her.’ ‘I had no trainer’ Saina’s path to the top wasn’t the easiest, as she details the struggles growing up. Unlike how revolutionised and professional today’s sports are, she didn’t have any of those facilities at her disposal. “I didn’t have a trainer or physio at that time, but all thanks to my mom and Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand), I could come this far,” Saina said at the WION World Pulse Summit. “I didn’t have women role models to look up to, but used to idolise Prakash [Padukone] sir.” Talking about badminton’s rise in the country, since she emerged on the scene and ended the Olympic medal drought in the London Games in 2012, Saina said, “Badminton is the second-most followed sport in India (after cricket).” Concluding with her thoughts on badminton’s future in the country, Saina said, “I hope we target (hosting) the Olympic Games in 2036 in India, and that, should it happen, India should aim to lead the medals tally in this discipline.” WATCH VIDEO -

At the WION World Pulse Summit, badminton legend Saina Nehwal received the Icon award and credits her mother for her historic journey to World No. 1.&nbsp;

Saina Nehwal credits mom for unparalleled success as she receives icon award at WION World Pulse summit

"AI is already defining everything that we do, the way its impacting our life, the way it is impacting geopolitics, the way it is impacting industry, the way it is impacting everything, almost every sector is impacted by AI", says Abhishek Singh, CEO India AI Mission.

WION World Pulse: Can There Be Consensus on Technological Geopolitics? 

Addressing the WION World Pulse summit, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Indian Army, stressed that defence and deterrence form the cornerstone of the nation’s security.

Indian IT industry will play a big role in the AI domain, said Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI Mission, who is also the Director General of National Informatics Centre, (NIC), and Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He was speaking at ‘Tech Pulse: Decoding Emerging Technologies,' the technology session of the Wion World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18).&nbsp;Referring to Indian artificial intelligence company Sarvam, he said that there are several Sarvams in the pipleline. Sarvam AI, founded in 2023, is a Bengaluru-headquartered Indian artificial intelligence company that develops large language models and multimodal AI systems with a focus on Indian languages and region-specific use cases.Singh also said that India will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetise AI, and that the Indian IT industry will help add value by helping embed and integrate AI models into legacy systems.Singh said, “AI is already defining everything that we do, the way it is impacting our lives, geopolitics, industry, almost every dimension that we can think of, almost every sector is impacted by AI. And when it comes to India, primarily we rely on the key strength of India and our core strength for the development of AI is our talent base that we have, the human resources, which helped in digital transformation not only in India… but our companies and engineers have been building impactful solutions across the world.”Admitting that India is lagging behind the US and China in the AI industry, Singh said, “We have a very large population and a large access to data sets and multiple languages, and the natural corollary is that we should be leading in the field of AI, but currently we are at number three, and we are behind the US and China, and the gap is quite a bit.”“So we are trying to bridge that gap.”<h2>‘Our companies like Sarvam are competing with the best’</h2>“What we are seeing in the evolution of the Indian AI ecosystem is not what we had seen in the 90s when we relied on the advantage of our manpower systems,” he commented.&nbsp;"Currently, what I see is when companies like Sarvam and others are raising money and are building impactful products, they are competing with the best. Yesterday, in the GTC, Sarvam was counted along with six other companies and the Nemotron group that Nvidia has formed,” he said.Singh was referring to US chip giant Nvidia’s push for open and sovereign AI, for which it has brought together a group of global AI labs, including India’s Sarvam, to co-develop next-generation open foundation models under a new initiative called the Nemotron Coalition.The coalition, announced at Nvidia’s GTC conference, positions Sarvam among a select group of frontier AI players such as Mistral AI, Perplexity, Thinking Machines Lab, LangChain, Cursor, Reflection AI, and Black Forest Labs, working jointly on building open models that can rival proprietary systems.Sarvam will contribute its expertise in building multilingual and voice-first models tailored to local contexts, a key gap in current global AI systems.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed</a><h2>‘We are there right at the top when it comes to building products’</h2>“So, we are there right at the top when it comes to building products. On all international benchmarks, Sarvam’s models have performed way better than many of the more well-known models. At least 12 other companies are building similar products and a whole lot of other companies applied for building the foundational models.”“Our challenge currently is to ensure that I am able to allocate sufficient compute for the hunger that exists. So I am fully confident that it will not only be one Sarvam, but there will be several Sarvams in the pipeline, and on top of it, just like we innovated the digital public infrastructure, and we built up services across sectors, we will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetize AI.”&nbsp;<h2>‘The West built AI models but just having the models is not sufficient’</h2>&nbsp;“The West has built the models but they still don’t know the way of getting returns on their investment because they don’t know how people will use it and how people will adopt it,” Singh pointed out.&nbsp;“Ultimately, you will have to orchestrate the whole thing, like the legacy system will have to embed the AI system, just having the models is not sufficient. You have to integrate the models into your systems, and that is where the India IT industry, that is where the TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Tech Mahindra will add value,” he said.

Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI Mission, said that India will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetize AI, and that the Indian IT industry will help add value by helping embed and integrate AI models into legacy systems.

Indian IT industry will play a big role in the AI domain, said Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI Mission, who is also the Director General of National Informatics Centre, (NIC), and Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He was speaking at ‘Tech Pulse: Decoding Emerging Technologies,' the technology session of the Wion World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18). Referring to Indian artificial intelligence company Sarvam, he said that there are several Sarvams in the pipleline. Sarvam AI, founded in 2023, is a Bengaluru-headquartered Indian artificial intelligence company that develops large language models and multimodal AI systems with a focus on Indian languages and region-specific use cases. Singh also said that India will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetise AI, and that the Indian IT industry will help add value by helping embed and integrate AI models into legacy systems. Singh said, “AI is already defining everything that we do, the way it is impacting our lives, geopolitics, industry, almost every dimension that we can think of, almost every sector is impacted by AI. And when it comes to India, primarily we rely on the key strength of India and our core strength for the development of AI is our talent base that we have, the human resources, which helped in digital transformation not only in India… but our companies and engineers have been building impactful solutions across the world.” Admitting that India is lagging behind the US and China in the AI industry, Singh said, “We have a very large population and a large access to data sets and multiple languages, and the natural corollary is that we should be leading in the field of AI, but currently we are at number three, and we are behind the US and China, and the gap is quite a bit.” “So we are trying to bridge that gap.” ‘Our companies like Sarvam are competing with the best’ “What we are seeing in the evolution of the Indian AI ecosystem is not what we had seen in the 90s when we relied on the advantage of our manpower systems,” he commented. "Currently, what I see is when companies like Sarvam and others are raising money and are building impactful products, they are competing with the best. Yesterday, in the GTC, Sarvam was counted along with six other companies and the Nemotron group that Nvidia has formed,” he said. Singh was referring to US chip giant Nvidia’s push for open and sovereign AI, for which it has brought together a group of global AI labs, including India’s Sarvam, to co-develop next-generation open foundation models under a new initiative called the Nemotron Coalition. The coalition, announced at Nvidia’s GTC conference, positions Sarvam among a select group of frontier AI players such as Mistral AI, Perplexity, Thinking Machines Lab, LangChain, Cursor, Reflection AI, and Black Forest Labs, working jointly on building open models that can rival proprietary systems. Sarvam will contribute its expertise in building multilingual and voice-first models tailored to local contexts, a key gap in current global AI systems. https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-john-bolton-warns-iran-s-nuclear-ambitions-among-biggest-global-threats-1773836110196/embed ‘We are there right at the top when it comes to building products’ “So, we are there right at the top when it comes to building products. On all international benchmarks, Sarvam’s models have performed way better than many of the more well-known models. At least 12 other companies are building similar products and a whole lot of other companies applied for building the foundational models.” “Our challenge currently is to ensure that I am able to allocate sufficient compute for the hunger that exists. So I am fully confident that it will not only be one Sarvam, but there will be several Sarvams in the pipeline, and on top of it, just like we innovated the digital public infrastructure, and we built up services across sectors, we will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetize AI.” ‘The West built AI models but just having the models is not sufficient’ “The West has built the models but they still don’t know the way of getting returns on their investment because they don’t know how people will use it and how people will adopt it,” Singh pointed out. “Ultimately, you will have to orchestrate the whole thing, like the legacy system will have to embed the AI system, just having the models is not sufficient. You have to integrate the models into your systems, and that is where the India IT industry, that is where the TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Tech Mahindra will add value,” he said.

Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI Mission, said that India will have AI use cases that will become the model for the world to monetise AI, and that the Indian IT industry will help add value by helping embed and integrate AI models into legacy systems.

Wion World Pulse: ‘Several Sarvams in pipeline, Indian IT industry will play big role in AI’: India AI Mission CEO

Israel or the US has no plans of invading Iran, says Rueven Azar, Ambassador of Israel to India, at WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi.

WION World Pulse | Azar: Iran has been threatening US for many decades 

WION World Pulse | Israel envoy to India Reuven Azar: Israel, US have no plans to invade Iran

Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director of the Takshashila Institution, said that technology, especially artificial intelligence, is emerging as a key pillar of geopolitical power, and India must actively participate in shaping its future. While speaking at at the WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), Pai was asked about India’s position in the global AI landscape and whether the country is investing enough in the sector. He said, "Tech is a form of geo-political power. Today is the era of geopolitics by tech, for tech and of tech. As per silicon valley mindset, India has no choice but to play the game and accumulate more power in terms of AI and Machine Learning: the only form of power in AI we can get when we have these LLMs &amp; a large number of servers like computing powers and chips, as well as build frontier models."However, Pai emphasised that India does not necessarily need to follow the same approach as Silicon Valley.&nbsp;He said, "I don't think that's the only way of getting national power. We are trying to build models and attempting to get computing power by playing our game. But you don't need to have your own DeepSeek to play that game."<h3>Our AI age will come from people: Nitin Pai</h3>He was asked what would happen if AI companies like Deepseek or Claude AI were shut down by China or the US. Then where would India stand in terms of that decision?&nbsp;“That’s not true, and it is also not true that we are late,” he said. "A lot of things are happening in India in terms of AI. But yes, it doesn’t necessarily match what Silicon Valley leaders like Sam Altman expect. The Indian path is different. Our AI age will come from people. They will build systems like DeepSeek, Sarvam AI, and BharatGen."Pai further highlighted that the real strength of India’s AI ecosystem will come from widespread adoption across sectors.&nbsp;"The thrust of India’s power in AI will come when people adopt it in their daily work—whether doctors, lawyers, or other professionals. The next thing India will do is that Indian companies will help the world adopt AI," he added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-s-world-pulse-india-must-aim-for-self-reliance-in-critical-sectors-sanjeev-sanyal-on-changing-world-order-1773820692618">WION World Pulse | 'India must aim for self-reliance in critical sectors': Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council of Indian PM</a>

Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director of the Takshashila Institution, spoke at the Wion World Pulse summit. He discussed LLMs, a large number of servers and frontier models being developed in India.

Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director of the Takshashila Institution, said that technology, especially artificial intelligence, is emerging as a key pillar of geopolitical power, and India must actively participate in shaping its future. While speaking at at the WION World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), Pai was asked about India’s position in the global AI landscape and whether the country is investing enough in the sector. He said, "Tech is a form of geo-political power. Today is the era of geopolitics by tech, for tech and of tech. As per silicon valley mindset, India has no choice but to play the game and accumulate more power in terms of AI and Machine Learning: the only form of power in AI we can get when we have these LLMs & a large number of servers like computing powers and chips, as well as build frontier models." However, Pai emphasised that India does not necessarily need to follow the same approach as Silicon Valley. He said, "I don't think that's the only way of getting national power. We are trying to build models and attempting to get computing power by playing our game. But you don't need to have your own DeepSeek to play that game." Our AI age will come from people: Nitin Pai He was asked what would happen if AI companies like Deepseek or Claude AI were shut down by China or the US. Then where would India stand in terms of that decision? “That’s not true, and it is also not true that we are late,” he said. "A lot of things are happening in India in terms of AI. But yes, it doesn’t necessarily match what Silicon Valley leaders like Sam Altman expect. The Indian path is different. Our AI age will come from people. They will build systems like DeepSeek, Sarvam AI, and BharatGen." Pai further highlighted that the real strength of India’s AI ecosystem will come from widespread adoption across sectors. "The thrust of India’s power in AI will come when people adopt it in their daily work—whether doctors, lawyers, or other professionals. The next thing India will do is that Indian companies will help the world adopt AI," he added. Also read: WION World Pulse | 'India must aim for self-reliance in critical sectors': Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council of Indian PM

Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director of the Takshashila Institution, spoke at the Wion World Pulse summit. He discussed LLMs, a large number of servers and frontier models being developed in India.

WION World Pulse | 'AI is new geopolitical power': Nitin Pai on India’s strategy towards new technologies

At WION World Pulse, discussions focused on how new equations are shaping international trade and redefining the global economic order. Experts highlighted the growing role of trust, shifting partnerships, and evolving trade dynamics in influencing global markets.

WION World Pulse: Sanjeev Sanyal says despite challenges, India's economic resilient

WION World Pulse: Sanjeev Sanyal says despite challenges, India's economy is resilient

Reuven Azar, Israel's ambassador to India, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said the ongoing war with Iran might take a few weeks to end. Azar pencilled out Israel’s strategic objectives and expectations in the ongoing West Asia conflict, stressing that the war is aimed at eliminating what he described as ‘existential threats’ posed by Iran.Azar said that Israel’s military campaign is focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, which he claimed posed a long-term danger not only to Israel but to the broader region. As per Azar, Israeli forces have already made significant progress by targeting leadership structures and key military capabilities, including the Basij forces. He acknowledged the global economic ripple effects of the conflict, particularly on fuel and food prices. Still, he argued that these consequences are minor compared to the risks of a nuclear-armed Iran. “By defending ourselves, we are making the entire region safer,” Azar said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/next-war-would-be-fought-in-space-says-dr-prahlada-rama-rao-at-wion-pulse-summit-next-game-changer-1773822691077">Next war would be fought in space, says Dr Prahlada Ramarao, the man behind India's Akash missile, at WION World Pulse summit&nbsp;</a>Speaking on concerns about the duration of the conflict, Azar said that Israel has the operational capacity to sustain military efforts for several more weeks. While international reactions have been mixed, he suggested that Gulf nations support Israel’s actions due to longstanding tensions with Iran.&nbsp;On the possibility of escalation, Azar clarified that a full-scale ground invasion is unlikely, though limited special operations cannot be ruled out. He stressed that Israel does not intend to topple the Iranian regime forcibly, but hoped its actions will weaken it enough to allow internal change.&nbsp;“I don't think that the US is going to invade Iran, but I feel that we have quite a good prospect of promoting stability and freeing us from this threat.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-how-trade-and-trust-redefining-global-order-1773828888968/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-how-trade-and-trust-redefining-global-order-1773828888968/embed</a>&nbsp;Highlighting India’s strategic importance, Azar praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s balanced approach, noting India’s ties with both Israel and Iran.&nbsp;He underscored that stability in West Asia is critical for India’s economic ambitions, particularly given the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf region. On connectivity initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Azar admitted that progress may slow due to the conflict but remained optimistic about its long-term potential. He stressed that such projects are important for boosting trade, energy cooperation, and regional integration once stability is restored.Towards the end of the chat, Azar expressed confidence that the weakening of Iran’s military capabilities could pave the way for greater economic cooperation and long-term prosperity across West Asia, benefiting not just regional players but partners like India.

Reuven Azar, Israel's ambassador to India, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said that the war might take a few weeks to end

Reuven Azar, Israel's ambassador to India, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said the ongoing war with Iran might take a few weeks to end. Azar pencilled out Israel’s strategic objectives and expectations in the ongoing West Asia conflict, stressing that the war is aimed at eliminating what he described as ‘existential threats’ posed by Iran. Azar said that Israel’s military campaign is focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, which he claimed posed a long-term danger not only to Israel but to the broader region. As per Azar, Israeli forces have already made significant progress by targeting leadership structures and key military capabilities, including the Basij forces. He acknowledged the global economic ripple effects of the conflict, particularly on fuel and food prices. Still, he argued that these consequences are minor compared to the risks of a nuclear-armed Iran. “By defending ourselves, we are making the entire region safer,” Azar said. Also Read: Next war would be fought in space, says Dr Prahlada Ramarao, the man behind India's Akash missile, at WION World Pulse summit Speaking on concerns about the duration of the conflict, Azar said that Israel has the operational capacity to sustain military efforts for several more weeks. While international reactions have been mixed, he suggested that Gulf nations support Israel’s actions due to longstanding tensions with Iran. On the possibility of escalation, Azar clarified that a full-scale ground invasion is unlikely, though limited special operations cannot be ruled out. He stressed that Israel does not intend to topple the Iranian regime forcibly, but hoped its actions will weaken it enough to allow internal change. “I don't think that the US is going to invade Iran, but I feel that we have quite a good prospect of promoting stability and freeing us from this threat.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-how-trade-and-trust-redefining-global-order-1773828888968/embed Highlighting India’s strategic importance, Azar praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s balanced approach, noting India’s ties with both Israel and Iran. He underscored that stability in West Asia is critical for India’s economic ambitions, particularly given the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf region. On connectivity initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Azar admitted that progress may slow due to the conflict but remained optimistic about its long-term potential. He stressed that such projects are important for boosting trade, energy cooperation, and regional integration once stability is restored. Towards the end of the chat, Azar expressed confidence that the weakening of Iran’s military capabilities could pave the way for greater economic cooperation and long-term prosperity across West Asia, benefiting not just regional players but partners like India.

Reuven Azar, Israel's ambassador to India, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said that the war might take a few weeks to end

'Gulf countries want US and Israel to succeed in Iran war', says Reuven Azar, Israeli ambassador to India at WION World Pulse summit

At WION World Pulse, discussions focused on how new equations are shaping international trade and redefining the global economic order. Experts highlighted the growing role of trust, shifting partnerships, and evolving trade dynamics in influencing global markets

WION World Pulse: How trade and trust redefining global order

WION World Pulse: How trade and trust are redefining global order

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